We ask you, urgently: don't scroll past this
Dear readers, Catholic Online was de-platformed by Shopify for our pro-life beliefs. They shut down our Catholic Online, Catholic Online School, Prayer Candles, and Catholic Online Learning Resources essential faith tools serving over 1.4 million students and millions of families worldwide. Our founders, now in their 70's, just gave their entire life savings to protect this mission. But fewer than 2% of readers donate. If everyone gave just $5, the cost of a coffee, we could rebuild stronger and keep Catholic education free for all. Stand with us in faith. Thank you.Help Now >
Pope Francis grants 'conditional freedom' to Monsignor responsible for 'Vatileaks II'
FREE Catholic Classes
Pope Francis has pardoned Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda, who was sentenced to 18 months in Vatican jail.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
12/21/2016 (8 years ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: Pope Francis, pardon, Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda, Vatican, court
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis commuted the Spanish priest's jail sentence and ordered his release from jail.
Vallejo was found guilty when a Vatican court decided he conspired to leak confidential documents to two journalists.
Vallejo and a co-defendant were accused of forming a criminal organization to help leak the documents but the courts found both innocent of the charges.
The documents Vallejo was secreting to the journalists implied Vatican bishops were misusing millions of euros.
The Vatican considers the publication of any confidential information a crime punishable of up to 8 years in prison.
Vallejo served over half his sentence following several trial-related hiccups, including an incident in which Vallejo was put under house arrest when a friend snuck him a cell phone hidden within a cake.
Luckily for the ex-Monsignor, Pope Francis came to the rescue.
The Pope granted Vallejo "conditional freedom" as part of the annual Christmas-time clemency.
---
'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'
Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

IRS Declares Churches Can Now Endorse Political Candidates Without Losing Tax-Exempt Status

Judge Temporarily Blocks Federal Defunding of Planned Parenthood Amid Legal Battle

Pope Leo XIV Shows Us the Only Way to Peace: Start with the Children
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
St. Veronica Giuliani: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
Prayer for a Happy Death: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, July 09, 2025
Daily Readings for Tuesday, July 08, 2025
St. Grimbald: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, July 08, 2025
- Look over me lord : Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, July 08, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.